The New York Observer Is Close To Buying Dealbreaker, But Bess Levin Is Holding Everybody Hostage

Jared Kushner's newspaper, The New York Observer, is
close to buying Breaking Media's Wall Street gossip blog,
Dealbreaker. In fact, a source close to the deal tells us people
at both companies describe it as "done."

But another source, one close to the higher-ups at the Observer,
cautions that the deal is "not final yet."

Why?

Bess Levin wants to get paid.

Bess is Dealbreaker's top editor and everyone, including her,
knows she's the only reason anybody reads the site.

Deal talks began earlier this year, but stalled this summer when
the Observer demanded Breaking Media to lock-in Bess for three
years. Supposedly Breaking Media low-balled Bess with a
three-year contract with a $50,000 signing bonus and a small
raise over her current salary. Bess balked.

And now, even though the Observer has agreed to buy DealBreaker
for $500,000 to $1,000,000, Breaking and Observer still haven't
offered Bess a big enough retention bonus.